Letter: ‘In God We Trust’ signs called ‘flagrantly unconstitutional’

Mr. Burroughs’ recent letter has driven me into the open. I am vehemently opposed to putting “In God We Trust” signs on the courthouse or any other government building. As an atheist, I would feel disenfranchised.

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Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

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Posted Apr. 10, 2013 at 6:48 PM
Updated Apr 10, 2013 at 6:50 PM

Posted Apr. 10, 2013 at 6:48 PM
Updated Apr 10, 2013 at 6:50 PM

To the Editor:

Mr. Burroughs’ recent letter has driven me into the open. I am vehemently opposed to putting “In God We Trust” signs on the courthouse or any other government building. As an atheist, I would feel disenfranchised.

Would I have any hope for justice or a fair trial? Those in favor of it seem to think that the majority speaks for everyone, which has never been true. While claiming the ardent patriotism, they seem to have no inkling why such a sign would be flagrantly unconstitutional.

The closing of Mr. Burroughs’ recent letter makes it obvious that he has swallowed the lie that this country was founded as a “Christian nation.” Nothing could be further from the truth. He points out the “Creator” appears four times in the Declaration of Independence; he does not comment on the fact that “God” does not appear at all. Many of our founding fathers were Deists, for whom “creator” was acceptable but to whom “God” was mentioned only once, as “Nature’s God,” who is clearly not the Christian God. In addition, the U. S. Constitution does not mention God at all. This country never has never been, is not now, and I devoutly hope never will be a “Christian nation.” Here are a few relevant quotations from our founding fathers:

The Treaty of Tripoli, ending the war with the Barbary pirates: “The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” (Negotiated by George Washington and signed by John Adams.) (This should be enough for anyone, I should think.)

John Adams: “This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.”

John Adams: “Mystery (the divinity of Jesus Christ) is made a convenient cover for Absurdity.”

Benjamin Franklin: “Lighthouses are more useful than churches.”

Benjamin Franklin: “I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life, I absented myself from Christian assemblies.”

Benjamin Franklin: “The Way to see Faith is to shut the Eye of Reason.” (Everyone knows that religion is the enemy of reason!)

Thomas Jefferson: “The Christian God is a being of terrific character — cruel, vindictive, capricious and unjust.”

Thomas Jefferson: “Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man.”

There are many, many others, but surely the above are sufficient to put this hallowed lie to rest. I know, of course, that that won’t happen: Such people are past masters at believing only those things that square with their own uninformed beliefs.